shivamrityunjayadeath-conqueringmarkandeya

Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

महामृत्युंजय स्तोत्रम्

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Brahma Muhurta, or at the bedside of the ill·📜 Traditional Shaiva stotra (attributed to Sage Markandeya)

Also known as: maha mrityunjaya stotram · mahamrityunjaya stotram · rudram pashupatim sthanum · kim no mrityuh karishyati · markandeya mrityunjaya stotram · mrityunjaya stotra

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram is the hymn 'Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum', attributed to Sage Markandeya, in which every verse ends with the fearless refrain 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' — 'What then can death do to me?'. Distinct from the one-line Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, this stotra bows to Shiva by a cascade of his names — Nilakantha, Kalanashana (destroyer of Time), giver of both heaven and liberation — affirming that to one surrendered to him, death holds no power. It is recited for protection from untimely death, healing and a long, healthy life.

Origin & Story

Traditional Shaiva stotra (attributed to Sage Markandeya) · Attributed to Markandeya Rishi · Ancient / classical

This death-conquering hymn is traditionally linked to Sage Markandeya, the boy-sage who overcame Yama through devotion to Shiva and was blessed with immortality. The stotra distils that fearlessness into a litany of Shiva's names — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu, Nilakantha, Kalanashana — each verse sealing the bow with the rhetorical question 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati', 'what can death do to me?', the cry of a soul wholly sheltered in the Lord.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told that when the noose of Yama fell upon young Markandeya, Lord Shiva sprang from the Lingam and drove death away, granting the boy eternal youth. From this triumph flows the conviction behind this stotra: that the devotee who bows to Shiva with the words 'what can death do to me?' is placed beyond the reach of untimely death, and many recite it at sickbeds reporting peace and recovery.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१॥

Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥1॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu (the eternal pillar), the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to me?

Verse 2

नीलकण्ठं कालमूर्तिं कालज्ञं कालनाशनम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥२॥

Nilakantham Kalamurtim Kalajnam Kalanashanam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥2॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the embodiment of Time, the knower of Time, the destroyer of Time. What then can death do to me?

Verse 3

नीलकण्ठं विरूपाक्षं निर्मलं निलयप्रदम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥३॥

Nilakantham Virupaksham Nirmalam Nilayapradam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥3॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the one with the wondrous eye, the stainless, the giver of the final abode. What then can death do to me?

Verse 4

वामदेवं महादेवं लोकनाथं जगद्गुरुम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥४॥

Vamadevam Mahadevam Lokanatham Jagadgurum। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥4॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — Vamadeva, the great God, Lord of the worlds, preceptor of the universe. What then can death do to me?

Verse 5

देवदेवं जगन्नाथं देवेशं वृषभध्वजम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥५॥

Devadevam Jagannatham Devesham Vrishabhadhvajam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥5॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — God of gods, Lord of the universe, ruler of the gods, whose banner bears the bull. What then can death do to me?

Verse 6

गंगाधरं महादेवं सर्पाभरणभूषितम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥६॥

Gangadharam Mahadevam Sarpabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥6॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the bearer of the Ganga, the great God, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 7

त्र्यक्षं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं जटामुकुटधारिणम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥७॥

Tryaksham Chaturbhujam Shantam Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥7॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the three-eyed, four-armed, serene one, wearing a crown of matted locks. What then can death do to me?

Verse 8

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गं नागाभरणभूषितम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥८॥

Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam Nagabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥8॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — all his limbs smeared with sacred ash, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 9

अनन्तमव्ययं शान्तमक्षमालाधरं हरम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥९॥

Anantam-Avyayam Shantam-Akshamala-Dharam Haram। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥9॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — the infinite, the imperishable, the peaceful, holding the rosary, Hara the remover. What then can death do to me?

Verse 10

आनन्दं परमं नित्यं कैवल्यपददायिनम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१०॥

Anandam Paramam Nityam Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥10॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — supreme and eternal bliss, the giver of the state of absolute liberation. What then can death do to me?

Verse 11

स्वर्गापवर्गदातारं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥११॥

Svargapavarga-Dataram Srishti-Sthity-Anta-Karinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥11॥

Meaning:I bow my head to that God — bestower of heaven and of liberation, the doer of creation, preservation and dissolution. What then can death do to me?

Verse 12

कल्पायुर्देहि मे पुण्यं यावदायुररोगताम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१२॥

Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥12॥

Meaning:Grant me, O Lord, a lifespan of an aeon, merit, and lifelong freedom from disease — I bow my head to that God. What then can death do to me?

Word-by-Word Meaning

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रुद्रम्🔊RudramRudra — the fierce roarer, the destroyer of suffering

पशुपतिम्🔊PashupatimPashupati — Lord of all living beings

स्थाणुम्🔊SthanumSthanu — the firm, immovable, eternal pillar (the unchanging absolute)

नीलकण्ठम्🔊NilakanthamThe blue-throated one (who held the halahala poison in his throat to save creation)

उमापतिम्🔊UmapatimThe Lord (consort) of Uma (Parvati)

नमामि शिरसा देवम्🔊Namami Shirasa DevamI bow my head to that God

किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति🔊Kim No Mrityuh KarishyatiWhat then can death do to us? — the fearless refrain ending every verse

कालमूर्तिम्🔊KalamurtimThe very embodiment of Time

कालज्ञम्🔊KalajnamThe knower of Time (and of the right moment)

कालनाशनम्🔊KalanashanamThe destroyer of Time (and hence of death)

विरूपाक्षम्🔊VirupakshamThe one with the odd (third) eye / many-formed eye

निलयप्रदम्🔊NilayapradamThe giver of the final abode (refuge, liberation)

वामदेवम्🔊VamadevamVamadeva — one of the five faces of Shiva, the beautiful and gracious aspect

जगद्गुरुम्🔊JagadgurumThe world-teacher (preceptor of the universe)

वृषभध्वजम्🔊VrishabhadhvajamHe whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)

गंगाधरम्🔊GangadharamThe bearer of the Ganga (in his matted locks)

सर्पाभरणभूषितम्🔊Sarpabharana-BhushitamAdorned with serpents as ornaments

त्र्यक्षम्🔊TryakshamThe three-eyed one

जटामुकुटधारिणम्🔊Jata-Mukuta-DharinamWearing a crown of matted locks

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गम्🔊Bhasmoddhulita-SarvangamAll his limbs smeared with sacred ash

अक्षमालाधरम्🔊Akshamala-DharamHolding the rosary (rudraksha mala)

कैवल्यपददायिनम्🔊Kaivalya-Pada-DayinamThe giver of the state of kaivalya (absolute liberation)

स्वर्गापवर्गदातारम्🔊Svargapavarga-DataramThe bestower of both heaven (svarga) and liberation (apavarga)

कल्पायुर्देहि मे पुण्यं यावदायुररोगताम्🔊Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-ArogatamGrant me a long life of an aeon (kalpa), merit, and freedom from disease for the whole of my life

Benefits of Chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

✦

Recited for protection from untimely and accidental death, like its companion the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

✦

Each verse's refrain 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' instils profound fearlessness toward death

✦

Invokes Shiva as Kalanashana — the destroyer of Time itself

✦

Prayed for health, longevity (kalpayuh) and lifelong freedom from disease (arogata)

✦

A beautiful meditation on the many names and forms of Shiva, deepening devotion

✦

Bestows both worldly wellbeing (svarga) and ultimate liberation (apavarga/kaivalya)

How to Chant Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Brahma Muhurta, or at the bedside of the ill

Sit facing east or north before an image or Lingam of Shiva, ideally with a rudraksha mala. Recite the verses steadily, dwelling on the refrain 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' as a heartfelt affirmation of fearless surrender. It is often chanted together with, or after, the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Om Tryambakam) for healing. During serious illness it is recited daily; for the dying, it is chanted at the bedside to bring peace and grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Sanskrit hymn to Lord Shiva, traditionally attributed to Sage Markandeya, beginning 'Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim'. Each verse salutes Shiva by his names and ends with the refrain 'Namami Shirasa Devam, Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' — 'I bow my head to that God; what then can death do to me?'

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is the single Vedic verse 'Om Tryambakam Yajamahe' from the Rigveda. The Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram is a separate, longer hymn of many verses ('Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum') attributed to Markandeya. Both are dedicated to Shiva as the conqueror of death and are often recited together.

Markandeya was a young sage destined to die at sixteen. On that day he embraced the Shiva Lingam in devotion; when Yama, the god of death, cast his noose, Shiva burst forth and saved him, granting him deathlessness. Hymns conquering death, including this stotra, are associated with Markandeya's victory over Yama.

It is chanted for protection from untimely death, for recovery from illness, for longevity and for fearlessness. Mondays, Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri are especially auspicious. It is also recited at the bedside of the seriously ill and the dying to invoke Shiva's grace and a peaceful, fearless state.